Mommy Training!

Here we go again! The joyous job of potty training. Since this is my third time around, I finally have it figured out --- God created us to excrete our waste solely for the purpose of teaching Mothers valuable lessons!!

My first two were relatively easy to potty train - they both took less than a week from start to finish, never wet the bed at night and were completely trained by age 2. But still as easy as I've heard that they were, it was one of my least favorite tasks to endure as a mother. And now...with our third...the age of 24 months is long gone!!! He is now 31 months and I am embarrassed to say he is not potty trained yet. He is my mold-breaker! He does things his own style. From labor to talking to being corrected to inventing his own language - he's going to add his own twist to life. Why should I be surprised that potty training be any different!?!

I am thankful, however, for the lessons this training process has taught me or re-taught me!

*PATIENCE, ENDURANCE, PERSEVERANCE!!!

*Each child is a unique, special gift from God in every way! They don't conform to my narrow mold.

*Any child can learn! (It just may take more creativity, work, and PRAYER to aid in the process).

*I don't have it all figured out yet even though I've "been there" before!

*The more I struggle and work, the sweeter the accomplishment.

He has made some great improvements and I do think the end is right around the corner. I thank the Lord for this chance to lean on Him a bit more and to learn to love Jake more! I do hope, though, that these lessons are over SOON!!

Anna on the move!

Anna hasn't been in any hurry to walk since she turned one. Yesterday I looked up to find her stand up on her own and take 3-4 steps. I grabbed the camera and caught her in her second try. The video is a little embarrassing because I was so shocked I yelled pretty loud right into the camera, so if your speakers are turned up you may want to turn them down! :0 Sorry!

Our Oldest is SEVEN!

Caleb turned 7 years old yesterday. I don't know why that sounds so old to me. He just seems to have gotten big overnight.



He is crazy about baseball right now (since it's baseball season). He loves the Cubs and is SO excited to play 'machine pitch' this summer. (He is the youngest boy on his team, so we'll see how that goes)!

I am thankful that he enjoys practicing and working hard at sports because that is such a great object lesson for his spiritual walk. Paul especially makes it easy to show how our Christian life is like a race or an athletic event. I'm surprised I just wrote that because Chuck has been trying to convince me for years that football has so many life lessons!! :) I guess I'm starting to understand when I watch Caleb and how much of himself he throws in to every activity he does. I long for him to be that passionate for the Lord!

Anna's First Birthday

Hard to believe our youngest turned ONE on April 30. I'm a bit late posting these pictures, but I thought they were cute (and I finally figured out how to post a slideshow).

Savor Each Minute

Mother's day caused me to reflect a bit on the great privilege God has given me in allowing me to mother the precious ones He created in me. I can't imagine any job I could love any more than being a mother. I also can't imagine any job more difficult, scary, serious and more exhausting than motherhood! I don't think I have failed more at any one thing in my life (other than maybe at being a daughter and a wife)...but in God's grace, the success is up to Him!

As Caleb is turning SEVEN in a week, I have really been trying to savor his "lasts." The last time he says 'weally' instead of really, the last time he needs help tying his shoes, the last time he buttons his shirt crooked (that one may take a while). He has truly been a gift from the Lord and I am so grateful for the chance to mother him!

Our little social butterfly stretches me almost daily with how friendly, loving and kind she is with anyone she knows (and even doesn't know)! She looks for someone to talk to everywhere we go and is able to strike up some kind of conversation with everyone. I wish I had that gift. :)

Jacob Ray is, well, he's two!!! He changes like the wind...when he's happy, he is such a joy. His smile melts my heart. But when things aren't quite right, we all pay. We just really try to concentrate on the happy times!

Our sweet baby girl...just might be our last. I'm again trying to savor every minute we have in 'baby stages.' A lady came up to me yesterday in church with tears in her eyes saying how much she misses the young years of her children's lives. She urged me to treasure this time in my life because so soon it will be gone. I have heard that many times but it is so true. Where has this last year gone?? And do I truly savor this time? The two sets of diapers, the children arguing, the messes, the spills, the runny noses, the fingerprints, the kisses, the cuddles, the smiles, the drawings, the 'I love you Mommy'...I sure hope I do!